Residents and visitors to Butler will find giant white footprints on the streets of Butler this Sunday — a sure sign that the Butler Road Race is on its way.

Butler Road Race Inc. board president Mike Franko and his corps of volunteers will be out early doing what they've done for the past 34 years. The white footprints that mark the course for the Butler Road Race 5-Mile Run and 2K Run and Health Walk are great reminders to sign up for this big community event, which runs down Main Street at 9 a.m. June 27.

The race is a tradition for hundreds of area runners, including women's open and masters course record holder Tammy Slusser.

"I got a call from Don and Tammy Slusser back in January saying, 'We're coming,'" Franko said

Preparation for the 2009 Butler Road Race actually began shortly after the conclusion of the 2008 version.

"There's so much to do," Franko said. "We have to get started early."

To close Main Street, a state route, and other side streets, Butler Road Race requires permits from the county, city and township. Traffic control and safety are of primary importance, so city police, CB Rangers and Butler Ambulance must be on duty.

This year's organizers initially had concerns about using the traditional 5-mile course, which runs on the now-closed Alameda Road. The road race committee was assured that the route would be open for runners on race day.

There will be plenty of refreshments and door prizes for all finishers in Diamond Park, and race results will be printed and distributed 20 minutes after the race. Each participant earns a colorful commemorative T-shirt, although the option of a singlet has been eliminated due to availability.

One more change is that packet pickup before the race will be held at Miller's Shoes on Main Street in Butler.

Participants can pick up their race packets at Miller's from 4 to 6 p.m. June 26 or on race day in Diamond Park, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

As volunteers prepare for this year's run, last year's event is not yet over. Board members attend awards ceremonies at Butler County high schools to present scholarships to deserving scholar athletes.

Scholarships have been awarded for the past 16 years, with award amounts depending on the money raised by the previous road race.

This year, 39 graduating seniors will be awarded $450 each. The top two, Sarah Robb of Knoch and Jason Clouse of Butler, will earn an additional $400 each.

Top honors are determined by the road race board, which reviews all applications. Awards are based on grade point average, years of participation in high school cross country, extracurricular activities, personal profile and an essay.

For information about the 34th annual Butler Road Race 5-Mile Run and 2K Run and Health Walk, call 724-282-7977 or visit www.butlerhealthsystem.org/brr.htm

Upcoming eventsSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Ed's got the coffee on. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Freeport Flash 5K, Sarver. Benefits Freeport Area Cross Country Boosters. www.freeportcrosscountry.comSaturday, 7:45 a.m.: Race-A-Palooza Half Marathon, Lower Burrell. 5K starts at 8:30. 724-335-9191 or alasure@vpfymca.orgSunday, 8:30 a.m.: Greenfield Glide 5K, Pittsburgh. Cross country run through Schenley Park. 412-422-8885 or www.active.comJune 10, 7 p.m.: Strawberry Days 5K, Grove City. First race in Mercer County Twilight QUAD. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.comJune 12, 7 p.m.: Riverview 5K, Pittsburgh. Run through Riverview Park, first event of Citiparks footraces. www.riverview5k.comJune 13, 8:30 a.m.: Middlesex Mad Dash 5K, Valencia. 724-473-1198June 13, 9 a.m.: Parkinson Awareness Memorial 5K Run and Walk, Uniontown. Run in memory of Jerry Maher Sr. 412-629-9292 or jermaher@zoominternet.netJune 13, 9 a.m.: Quality Life Cup Series 5K Event 2, Fair Winds Manor, Sarver. 724-431-0770, ext. 2104 or MikeL@QualityLifeServices.comJune 20, 9 a.m.: Kalajainen Classic 5K, New Castle. 724-652-5105 or dreedo55@aol.comJune 21, 8 a.m.: Father's Day 5K-10K Run-Walk, Pittsburgh. Fights prostate cancer. 412-572-6830 or www.fathersday5k.comJune 22, 7 p.m.: Chase at the Lake 5K, Lake Latonka. Second race in Twilight QUAD. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Race results

Pittsburgh Half Marathon, part 2: Lauren McAndrews, 2:05:45; Jennifer Flango, 2:05:49; Jim Dolfi, 2:05:59; Rebecca Kirsch, 2:06:03; Aaron Clark, 2:06:05; Nina Bernstein, 2:06:18; Krysten Genaway, 2:06:18; Chuck Magro, 2:06:27; James Oakes, 2:06:30; Vincent Moore, 2:06:32; Laura Thomas, 2:06:35; Jessie Rack, 2:06:37; Vince Politi, 2:06:40; Linda Reed, 2:06:44; Yolien Peeters, 2:06:54; Benjamin Giovanelli, 2:07:37; Jennifer Stepp, 2:07:43; Robert Moury, 2:07:45; Erin Donaldson, 2:08:02; Alicia Voll, 2:08:13; Jeff McGill, 2:08:15; Jennifer Klink, 2:08:18; Samantha Booth, 2:08:28; Michael Dewitt, 2:08:29; Kristy Magdelinic, 2:08:34; Barbara Schweitzer, 2:08:34; Sherry Knox, 2:08:51; John Choma, 2:08:51; Ken Wilson, 2:09:21; Kathy Devschec, 2:09:21; Matthew Callihan, 2:09:28; Kate Stuart, 2:09:28; Jonathan Cornely, 2:09:31; Valerie Jordan, 2:09:38Jessica McKnight, 2:09:39; Brianne Voelp, 2:10:34; Scott Ackerman, 2:11:25; Caroline Kimmich, 2:12:03; Ann Cheman, 2:12:05; Mimi Wilson, 2:12:24; Julie Codispot, 2:12:40; Ginger Markle, 2:12:40; Chandra Taormina, 2:12:46; Jason Chappell, 2:12:47; Patty Kitt, 2:12:48; Julia Johnson, 2:13:16; Eileen McClure, 2:13:27; Melissa Zilka, 2:13:55; Jeffrey Szebalski, 2:14:03; Nancy Miller, 2:14:10; Kelly Dresser, 2:14:33; Paula Schmitt, 2:14:35Michael Zilka, 2:14:49; Susan Gentile, 2:14:51; Lynn Beck, 2:14:52; Dana Longwell, 2:15:36; Buddy Turner, 2:15:36; Viji Shankar, 2:15:39; Corey Kamer, 2:15:51; Amanda Trapp, 2:15:56; Bradley Kehim, 2:16:01; Amy Redilla, 2:16:02; Jennifer Hancox, 2:16:06; Leah Rapp, 2:16:18; Whitney Corrigan, 2:16:19; Erica Lesko, 2:16:38Brandon Reed, 2:16:45; Becky Monhemius, 2:17:06; Carey Holden, 2:17:14; Ken Boben, 2:17:24; Judy Jordan, 2:17:342; Amy Badorf, 2:17:35; Tom Donaldson, 2:17:37; Andy McIntyre, 2:17:46; Grant Coffield, 2:18:16; Caitlyn Painter, 2:18:18; Kathie Blinn, 2:18:24; Amelia Ruefthaler, 2:18:28; Michelle Metz-Foley, 2:18:45; Paul McGroary, 2:18:46; Paula Berry, 2:18:59; Gary Molitor, 2:19:14; Stephanie Moore, 2:19:34; Nichol Dawson, 2:19:44; Tim Schmid, 2:19:47Loic Legendre, 2:20:14; Mere Legendre, 2:20:15; Sherree May, 2:20:42; Vivian Mihalakis, 2:20:47; Jim Erickson, 2:21:02; Deborah Anderson, 2:21:11; Dana Sabo, 2:21:31; Tammy Sutter, 2:21:47; Lynne Frankowski, 2:22:08; Mary Moody, 2:22:13; Shawn Hanlon, 2:22:13; Nicholas Hovanic, 2:22:18; Heather Amistade, 2:22:18; Caroline Scammahorn, 2:22:55; Scott Caputy, 2:23:01; Heather Esham, 2:23:40Nicole Voll, 2:24:14; Nancy Wagner, 2:24:33; Amy Trempus, 2:24:34; Paula Miller, 2:25:30; Jon Stipanovich, 2:25:30; Casey Voelmle, 2:25:35; Craig Smith, 2:25:39; David Murray, 2:25:39; Susan Collier, 2:25:40; Cindy Reddick, 2:25:57; Kelli Robinson, 2:26:03; Renee Dewitt, 2:26:06; Kristen Turkovich, 2:26:08; Ron Cygnarowiez, 2:26:45; Bonnie Deangelis, 2:27:46; Jennifer Miller, 2:28:06; Lisa Salpeck, 2:28:25; Lisa May, 2:28:38; Leighann Sharkey, 2:29:07; Marydonna Ravasio, 2:32:12; Brooke Warren, 2:36:35; Stephanie Smith, 2:29:29; Niki Campbell, 2:29:42; Jillian Monahan, 2:29:53; Bobbie Binnie, 2:30:55Nicole Binnie, 2:30:54; Rachel Rutkowski, 2:31:17; Melinda McConnell, 2:34:44; Melinda Domer, 2:35:17; Branee Miller, 2:36:04; Malorye Waite, 2:38:17; Colin Zedreck, 2:35:15; Ray Gill, 2:36:25; Sheri Gibson, 2:36:50; Sharon Baer, 2:37:26; Debbie Cypher, 2:37:41; Ronald Cypher, 2:37:41; Benjamin Houston, 2:38:04; Pamela Alexander, 2:39:34; Lisa Ireland, 2:39:45; Michelle Robb, 2:39:56; Janet Voll, 2:40:31; Glen Chaffee, 2:42:27; Angela Petrucci, 2:43:42; Al Lane, 2:45:43; Michelle Eubanks, 2:45:47; Jane Lehmann, 2:46:04; Peter Ridgway, 2:46:34; Rachel Alker, 2:46:48; Darlene Lech, 2:47:30; Anthony Ippolito, 2:48:13; Dawn Zahovchak, 2:48:51; Lala Kaltenbaugh, 2:49:50; Alison Marcin, 2:50:44; Brandi Miller, 2:55:44; Mike Grabowski, 2:56:57; Michelle Pobicki, 3:03:35; Aryn Micaletti, 3:05:09; William Collier, 3:25:15; T.D. Wrice, 4:58:44;Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.